Packaging protector

ABSTRACT

A packaging protector comprising an annular divider member or partition of resilient material, such as polyethylene, for nesting within a frangible dish-shaped or bowllike piece of ware a separate complementing and frangible cover in an impactabsorbing or cushioned spaced-apart relationship with the piece of ware as well as providing for impact absorbing or cushioning between the walls of a package and the rims of the piece of ware and its associated cover packed in the carton of the package for shipping or storage purposes.

United States Patent 3 [72] inventor David J. Frelman Corning, N.Y. [21] Appl. No. 18,467 [22] Filed Mar. 11, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 12. 1971 [73] Assignee Corning Glam Works Corning, N.Y.

s41 PACKAGING PROTECTOR 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 206/46 FR, 206/46 FC [51] Int. Cl 865d 85/00 [50] FieldolSelrch 215/10, 13, 37; 220/97 F, 206/65 K, 46 FR. 46 FC 56 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.937.939 12/1933 Behrens 206/46RX P 5 12d I20 5 11111 i 1 111111" 2,878,931 3/1959 Styoheim 206/46 FR X P 3,1l3,667 12/1963 Knapp et a1 206/46 FC FOREIGN PATENTS r 393,220 6/1933 Great Britain 215/13 R Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistanl Examiner-John M. Caskie Attorneys-Clarence R. Patty, Jr. and Charles W. Gregg ABSTRACT: A packaging protector comprising an annular divider member or partition of resilient material. such as polyethylene, for nesting within a frangible dish-shaped or bowllike piece of ware a separate complementing and frangible cover in an impact-absorbing or cushioned spaced-apart relationship with the piece of ware as well as providing for impact absorbing or cushioning between the walls of a package and the rims of the piece of ware and its associated cover packed in the carton of the package for shipping or storage purposes.

PACKAGING PROTECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,1 13,667, issued Dec. I0, I963 to Eugene J. Knapp et al., a frangible ware package including an impact-absorbing partition or ring member I2 made of a substantially rigid yet compressible foamed pla tic material such as foamed polystyrene and used for the same purpose as the packaging protector or partition of the present invention. However, as is well known in the art, a ring member such as 12 shown in said patent, because ofa substantial lack [resiliency and elasticity must have relatively thick impactbsorbing walls and, therefore, requires the ware package to be larger, that is, to have more packaging space than when a packaging protector such as disclosed in the present application is employed. The saving in packaging space in each respective ware package with which a packaging protector of the present invention is employed will possibly not be con- 5 economic savings can be anticipated or foreseen. This will be readily apparent to those skilled in the packaging art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In practicing the invention disclosed, there is provided a packaging protector comprising an annular partition or divider member of a resilient material, such as polyethylene or other elastomeric material, and whose lower surface is intended to rest on the top surface of the rim ofa frangible dishshaped or bowllike piece of ware while a wall depending from the inner periphery of said annular member fits in the inner periphery of said rim, preferably with the outer surface of such wall contacting said surface of said inner periphery in a'relatively snug relationship therewith. A separate frangible and complementing cover is intended to nest in an inverted at-.

titude within the open end of said piece of ware with the normally upper surface of an outer annular flange portion of such cover resting on the upper surface of said annular'partition or dividermember opposite said top surface of said rim of said piece of ware. The'annular dividing member further includes on the outer periphery thereof a plurality of outwardly extending or projecting cushioning or impact-absorbing tab, lug or ear portions which are intended to contact the lnner surfaces of the sidewlllsof a carton of a ware package for impact-absorbing or cushioning between said sidewalls and'the outer peripheries of the rims of said piece of ware and its complementing cover packed in said carton. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a top plan view of the packaging protector emodying the invention and illustrating its use in protecting a 6i h-shaped or bowllike piece of ware packed in a shipping pi e FIG. 2 is an elevationsl cross-sectional view taken generally PREFERREDEMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown a package 10 including an outer carton II, the packaging protector embodying the present invention and comprising an annular partition or a divider member I2 of a resilient material. such as polystyrene or other elastomeric material, a dish-shaped or bowllikc frangible piece of ware such as I3 having generally upright or upwardly extending sidewalls such as [3a terminating in a rim 13b bordering and defining the usual opening leading into the interior of said piece of ware, and a frangible complcmenting cover 14 (FIG. 2) nesting in an inverted position in the upper open end of the piece of ware 13 with a flat and relatively thin and narrow annular main portion I2m of partition or divider member 12 disposed between said ware and its cover with the lower surface of said thin annular'main portion 12m of the divider member disposed adjacent the top surface of rim 13b of ware I3. The normally upper surface of an outer peripheral region or an annular flange portion 22 extending outwardly from a normally depending and low annular wall portion 21 of cover I4 is shown disposed adjacent the upper surface of the annular main portion 12m of partition or divider member 12. A relatively thin wall 12!: depends from the inner periphery of main portion 12m of annular member I2 and preferably tapers or graduates in thickness in an inner direction and towards the lower edge thereof. Wall 12h of member 12 fits in the inner periphery of rim 13b of ware 1.3 with the outer surface of said wall disposed adjacent the surface of the inner periphery of said rim and, preferably, but not necessarily, contacting such latter surface in a snug relationship therewith. -The similarity between items I0, I I, 13 and I4 shown in the drawings of the present application and the correspondingly designated items shown in the drawings of the previously cited patent to Knapp et al. will be readily apparent from a brief comparison of such drawings. However, the partition or divider member I2 of the present invention is substan tially different from the corresponding member 12 of Knapp etal. I I

' The packaging protector of the present invention and comprising partition or divider member I2 further includes first and second pairs of diametrically opposite impact-absorbing or cushioning, and generally hollow, ear, lug or tab portions such as I2a each of which extends or projects outwardly from the outer periphery of the annular main portion l2m of member 12, and each of which embodies a pair of upper cavities such asllb and 12c, and a pair of lower cavities such as 12f and 123. The boundaries of cavities 12b and 12c are defined by relatively thin inner and outer walls such as I2d and 124', respectively. (FIGS. I and 4) and a relatively thin center dividing wall such as I2n (FIG. I). The outside surface of each of the walls such as IZd conforms in configuration to a part of the outer peripheral surface of flange portion 22 of cover 14 and all of the walls such as 12d, I21 and 12!: extend upwardly from the plane of the upper surface of said annular main portion 12m of divider member 12. The thicknesses of said walls are somewhat exaggerated in the drawings for purposes of clarity, and for purposes of crosshatching in the crosssectional views.

Similarly, the boundaries of cavities 12f and I2 are defined,

by center dividing walls such as 12p (FIG. 5), inner walls such as I2k, and the previously mentioned outer walls such as I2i which are common to both the upper and lower cavities. The outside surface of each of the walls such as 12k conforms in configuration to a part of the outer peripheral surface of rim 13b of ware'IJ and all of the walls such as 12k and 12p, and said common outer walls such as I2l, extend downwardly from the plane of the lower surface of said annular main portion 12m of divider member l2. The thicknesses of such walls, as well as the thickness of previously discussed depending annular inner wall 12h, are also somewhat exaggerated in crosssectional views. FIGS. 2. 3 and 4 of the drawings for crosshatching purposes. The downwardly extending walls such as 12k of ear, lug or tab portions 120, in conjunction with depending wall 12h, provide channels such as 12: (FIGS. 4 and 5) in which portions of the rim 13b of a piece of ware such as 13 fit, preferably in a relatively snug relationship with the walls defining the boundaries of the channels such as 12:. The outwardly extending or projecting ear, lug or tab portions such as 120 of divider member or partition 12 project or extend from locations on the outer periphery of the annular main por-.

tion 12m of member 12 such that, when ware l3 and cover 14 are packed in a canon such as 11 ofa package such as l0, the outer surfaces of the outer walls such as 12: of the tab portions such as 120 are disposed adjacent the inner surfaces of the sidewalls of said carton as illustrated in HO. 1 and with said surfaces preferably, but not necessarily. contacting each other in a relatively snug relationship.

The drawings having been discussed in detail, "aibrief description of the use of the package protector comprising partition or divider member 12 will now be set forth. 7

As previously mentioned. the shipping package 10 comprising a carton such as H, and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings of the present application, is similar to package 10 comprising carton ll of H68. 1 and 2 of the cited Knapp et al. patent except that canon 11 of the present application is square in configuration rather than somewhat oblong as in said patent. Furthermore, the piece of ware l3 and its complementing cover 14 of the present application, as well as the enclosing top wall 15 of carton H, which is broken away in FIG. 1 of the present application to better illustrate theattitude of ware l3 when packed in carton 11, are similar to the correspondingly designated items of Knapp et al. Ware 13 is also shown as having a pair of outwardly extending handle portions l8 formed integrally with the outer periphery of rim 13b of the ware at locations opposite each other along said rim and similarly to the corresponding handle portions 18 of the cited Knapp et al. patent. However, as illustrated in H0. l of the present application, ware 13 is shown placed within carton it with the extending handle portions such as 18 disposed in a pair of opposite comer regions of the carton, that is, with said handle portions extending toward a pair of opposite corners of carton it. This arrangement permits the square configuration of carton ll rather than the oblong configuration of carton ll of the Knapp et al. patent and permits a further reduction in the packaging space required in a were package such as 10.

As previously mentioned. in using a packaging protector comprising an annular partition or divider member such as 12, the dish-shaped or bowllike piecejof ware such as 13 is placed in a carton such as ll as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and divider member 12 is placed over rim 13b of ware 13 with the lower surface of the annularmain portion 12m of the divider member disposed adjacent the top surface of said rim so that the depending annular wall 12h of member 12 extends into the opening into ware 13(FlGS. 2 and 3 and so that rim 13b extends into channels 12: provided in said divider member. Carton H is of: size selected so that the outer surfaces of the outer walls such as 121' of the extending ear, lug or tab portions such as 120 of divider member 12 are adjacent to or contact the inner surfaces of the sidewallsof carton ll. Cover 14 is then placed in an inverted attitude within divider member 12 and in a nesting relationship within the opening of ware 13 with the upper surface of flange portion 22 of cover 14 disposed adjacent the upper surface of the annular main portion 12m of divider member 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Wall l2 of member i2 is preferably but not necessarily, of a thickness such that cover 14 fits within member [2 with the outer surface of wall portion 21 of cover l4 contacting the inner surface of wall 12h of member 12 in a relatively snug relationship therewith. The extending ear, lug or tab portions 12a of member l2 provide for cushioning or impact energy absorbing between the sidewalls of carton ll of package 10 and the rims ofthe piece of ware l3 and of annular flange portion 22 of cover 14, while the annular main portion 12m of member 12 provides for cushioning between the upper surface 7 13, such as a circular configuration for example, the annular main portion such as 12m of the divider mcmbersuch as 12 would, of course, correspond to such configuration it is further pointed out that divider members 'such as 12 can conveniently be employed for stacking, in inplant transportation operations or for storage purposes, a plurality of pieces of ware such as 13 without their complementing covers such as lclaim:

I. As anfarticieof manufacture, a resilient packaging protector comprising a divider member for a bowllike piece of ware having generally upright sidewalls terminating in the usual rim and a complementing cover having a normally depending and annular low wall portion and a flange portion extending outwardly from such wall portion, such ware and associated cover to be packed in a carton with said cover in an inverted nesting attitude within the upper region of the interior of said piece of ware and with sidewalls of said carton bounding said ware and its associated cover, said divider member including; i

A. a flat relatively thin and narrow annular main member having, l. a planar configuration corresponding to that of said rim of said piece of ware ii. a lower surface for disposal adjacent the upper surface of said rim, and

iii. an upper surface for receipt adjacent thereto of the normally upper surface of said annular flange portion of said cover; I

B. a relatively thin wall depending from the inner periphery of said annular main member and having,

i. an outer surface for disposal adjacent the inner peripheral surface of said rim of said piece of ware, and

ii. an inner surface for receipt adjacent thereto of the outer peripheral surface of said wall portion of said cover; and 1 C. a plurality of generally hollow impact-absorbing or cushioning tab portions extending outwardly from the outer periphery of said annular main portion of said divider membencach such tab portion having,

l. a relatively thin outer wall having an outer surface for disposal adjacent the inner surface of one of said sidewalls of said carton, I

ii. a relatively thin inner and upper wall having an outside surface conforming to a part of the outer peripheral surface of said flange portion of said cover and for disposal adjacent such portion of such peripheral surface,and 7 ill. a relatively thin inner and lower wall having an outside surface conforming to a portion of the outer peripheral surface of said rim of said piece of 'ware and for disposal adjacent such portion of such peripheral surface.

2. A packaging protector as in claim 1 and in which said di-' viderrnember is formed of an elastomeric material. 3. A packaging protector as in claim 1 and in which said divider member is formed of polyethylene. I

4. A packaging protector as in claim 1 and in which said plurality of tab portions comprise first and second diametrically opposite pairs of such portions.

5. A packaging protector as in claim 1 and in which said outside surface of said inner and lower wall of each said tab portion of said divider member and an associated portion of said outer surface of said depending wall of the divider member define boundaries of a channel-for receipt therein of a portion of said rim of said piece of ware in a snug relationship with said surfaces. 7

6. A packaging protector as in claim 5 and in which said divider member is formed of an elastomeric material.

member. 2

9. A packaging protector as in claim 8 and in which said divider member is formed of an elastomeric material. 7

10. A packaging protector as in claim 8 and in which said divider member is formed of polyethylene. 

1. As an article of manufacture, a resilient packaging protector comprising a divider member for a bowllike piece of ware having generally upright sidewalls terminating in the usual rim and a complementing cover having a normally depending and annular low wall portion and a flange portion extending outwardly from such wall portion, such ware and associated cover to be packed in a carton with said cover in an inverted nesting attitude within the upper region of the interior of said piece of ware and with sidewalls of said carton bounding said ware and its associated cover, said divider member including; A. a flat relatively thin and narrow annular main member having, I. a planar configuration corresponding to that of said rim of said piece of ware, II. a lower surface for disposal adjacent the upper surface of said rim, and III. an upper surface for receipt adjacent thereto of the normally upper surface of said annular flange portion of said cover; B. a relatively thin wall depending from the inner periphery of said annular main member and having, I. an outer surface for disposal adjacent the inner peripheral surface of said rim of said piece of ware, and II. an inner surface for receipt adjacent thereto of the outer peripheral surface of said wall portion of said cover; and C. a plurality of generally hollow impact-absorbing or cushioning tab portions extending outwardly from the outer periphery of said annular main portion of said divider member, each such tab portion having, I. a relatively thin outer wall having an outer surface for disposal adjacent the inner surface of one of said sidewalls of said carton, II. a relatively thin inner and upper wall having an outside surface conforming to a part of the outer peripheral surface of said flange portion of said cover and for disposal adjacent such portion of such peripheral surface, and III. a relatively thin inner and lower wall having an outside surface conforming to a portion of the outer peripheral surface of said rim of said piece of ware and for disposal adjacent such portion of such peripheral surface.
 2. A packaging protector as in claim 1 and in which said divider member is formed of an elastomeric material.
 3. A packaging protector as in claim 1 and in which said divider member is formed of polyethylene.
 4. A packaging protector as in claim 1 and in which said plurality of tab portions comprise first and second diametrically opposite pairs of such portions.
 5. A packaging protector as in claim 1 and in which said outside surface of said inner and lower wall of each said tab portion of said divider member and an associated portion of said outer surface of said depending wall of the divider member define boundaries of a channel for receipt therein of a portion of said rim of said piece of ware in a snug relationship with said surfaces.
 6. A packaging protector as in claim 5 and in which said divider member is formed of an elastomeric material.
 7. A packaging protector as in claim 5 and in which said divider member is formed of polyethylene.
 8. A packaging protector as in claim 1 and in which each respective said part of said outer peripheral surface of said flange portion of said cover contacts, in a snug relationship therewith, said conforming outer surface of said inner and upper wall of each respective said tab portion of said divider member.
 9. A packaging protector as in claim 8 and in which said divider member is formed of an elastomeric material.
 10. A packaging protector as in claim 8 and in which said divider member is formed of polyethylene. 